abbey church
Cloister's worship hall
An abbey church is the principal church of an abbey—a monastery or convent—serving as the center of worship for the religious community.
Many abbey churches survived after their monasteries dissolved, continuing as parish churches or cathedrals: Westminster Abbey began as an abbey church.
- apseVaulted church recess
- transeptChurch's lateral wing
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- sacred spaceArea reserved for worship
- monasteryReligious seclusion dwelling
altar · nave · high altar · scriptorium · monastic life · chapter house · liturgy · Latin Mass · choir · vespers · refectory · cloister · stained glass · medieval · Reformation · crypt · burial vault · vaulted ceiling
ecclesiastical affiliation and purpose
abbey churchparish church
Local community worship building
oratory · wayside shrine · chapel · village church · cathedral